BILL ANALYSIS

Senate Research Center	C.S.S.B. 285
86R20405 AAF-D	By: Miles
	Intergovernmental Relations
	3/26/2019
	Committee Report (Substituted)

AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT

The Texas General Land Office (GLO) published a report in August 2018 called "Hurricane Harvey: Texas at Risk." The report detailed lessons learned from Hurricane Harvey and recommended 18 changes to better prepare for the next natural disaster.

In that report, GLO recommended that a "comprehensive Texas public information campaign through multiple mechanisms should be implemented before, during, and after major disasters to explain to the public what the federal and state government's programs can assist them during a major disaster, but also what they will not do under federal and state law."

GLO made this recommendation because of an "information gap" in disaster recovery resources. It found that local officials and the public did not fully understand what resources state and federal law guarantee to natural disaster victims. This information gap led to over-reliance on government resources and inadequate preparation�including, in many cases, insufficient flood insurance coverage. In fact, the report found that "83 percent of the homes impacted by Hurricane Harvey did not have flood insurance."

S.B. 285 establishes two means of distributing hurricane preparedness and assistance information.

First, the governor will issue a proclamation before each hurricane season that instructs (1) individuals to prepare their property and communities for hurricane season, (2) state agencies to update their hurricane preparedness plans, and (3) cities, counties, and various state agencies to conduct outreach on hurricane preparedness.

Second, GLO will conduct a public information campaign each year before and during hurricane season. The campaign will provide local officials and the public with information about what housing resources state and federal law does and does not provide in the aftermath of a hurricane or flood.

The committee substitute adds the Department of State Health Services to the list of entities instructed by the governor to conduct public outreach and education activities.

C.S.S.B. 285 amends current law relating to information and outreach regarding hurricane preparedness and mitigation.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

This bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, institution, or agency.

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1. Amends Subchapter F, Chapter 418, Government Code, by adding Sections 418.127 and 418.128, as follows:

Sec. 418.127. HURRICANE PREPAREDNESS. Requires the governor to issue a proclamation each year before hurricane season instructing:

(1) individuals, including residential and commercial property owners, to prepare their property and communities for the upcoming hurricane season;

(2) state agencies to review and update their hurricane preparedness plans; and

(3) the following entities, to the extent practicable, to conduct community outreach and education activities on hurricane preparedness between May 25 and May 31 of each year:

(A) municipalities and counties;

(B) the Texas Division of Emergency Management;

(C) the Texas Education Agency;

(D) the Office of the Comptroller of Public Accounts of the State of Texas;

(E) the Texas Department of Insurance; and

(F) the Department of State Health Services.

Sec. 418.128. HOUSING ASSISTANCE INFORMATION. Requires the Texas General Land Office to conduct a public information campaign each year before and during hurricane season to provide local officials and the public with information regarding housing assistance that may be available under state and federal law in the event of a major hurricane or flooding event, including information about types of assistance unavailable under that law.

SECTION 2. Effective date: September 1, 2019.